{"id":4,"date":"2023-06-20T06:54:56","date_gmt":"2023-06-20T05:54:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ihitashri.com\/index.php\/2023\/06\/20\/reviving-indias-cultural-legacy-a-journey-of-art-and-connection\/"},"modified":"2023-06-25T10:44:07","modified_gmt":"2023-06-25T09:44:07","slug":"bridging-the-gap-between-covid-warriors-and-mask-warriors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ihitashri.com\/index.php\/2023\/06\/20\/bridging-the-gap-between-covid-warriors-and-mask-warriors\/","title":{"rendered":"Bridging the Gap between Covid Warriors and Mask Warriors"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The world has witnessed an unprecedented human crisis in the past few months. A virus, not visible to naked eyes, has threatened human existence and even the most developed countries are failing to contain this pandemic. People are scared of getting out of their homes and consumer behaviour is seeing a radical shift. The lockdown has affected certain communities and groups of people the most. Daily wage labourers, artisans, weavers and their likes are struggling to provide one square meal to their families.<\/p>\n

\"No<\/div>\n

Early this year, in the pre-Covid days, MITHILAsmita and its team of traditional artists, weavers, leather artisans were busy working on some of the very prestigious orders of handmade and hand painted Madhubani art merchandise for global corporates and international museums. Around the same period, I had traveled back from London as part of my Chevening Clore International fellowship, when things were apparently normal in Europe. I was eager to apply my learnings to my job. However, within a few days of returning to India, everything everywhere seemed to be crashing down!<\/p>\n

\"No<\/div>\n

With the sudden surge in the spread of disease, our production came to a halt rendering most artisans confined to their homes. It took me a while to understand its intensity. Reading about the increasing number of affected cases and deaths reported across the globe ignited my anxiety. I quickly got back to my yoga and meditation to maintain my sanity and also to reassess my role in the organisation and society in these troubled times.<\/p>\n

After some deliberation, I realised that in this crisis one thing that has the power to give the best protection against this disease (after social distancing and hygiene) is a cloth mask! All countries around the world are struggling to avail masks to all the frontline heroes and even ordinary people, especially those in the vulnerable groups. Hospitals are asking home based workers to make masks for them due to acute shortages.<\/p>\n

A few days of contemplation, mask research and designing few masks myself for frontline people around me, made me realise the strengths of MITHILAsmita and all that we have achieved in the past one decade to help the current crisis- We have a network of Mask Warriors!<\/p>\n

\n

We have a network of Mask Warriors<\/em><\/strong>!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Mask warriors, in our language, are those who can play a part in creating masks to save people.<\/em><\/p>\n

These are people who could contribute to the huge scarcity of masks in India and globally. We are associated with hundreds of women artisans from rural communities and urban slums who possess sewing machines, scores of male artisans and tailors who also possess automatic sewing machines (with better capacity), clusters of weavers who can produce thousands of yards of the much sought after cotton fabric.<\/p>\n

\"No<\/div>\n

Besides, owing to our past experimentation in making silk and cotton Madhubani scarves and Khadi handloom Madhubani purses, we have access to own network of suppliers and traders of different kinds of fabrics required for creating different variants of masks with varying filtration levels.<\/p>\n

My heart aches every single time I read news of doctors, nurses, policemen, municipal workers and other frontline workers getting affected or losing their precious lives by contracting the disease while in line of duty. While these handmade masks are not effective for medical frontline workers, they definitely can save the lives of thousands of non-medical frontline workers, as per Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.<\/p>\n

This realisation of the immense potential of the artisan sector in this global crisis brought such a relief to me as a founder and a cultural leader! This also gave my social enterprise, MITHILAsmita, a new sense of purpose and direction. We did a cotton mask pilot with 20 women in the urban slums of Delhi.<\/p>\n

\"No<\/div>\n

Initial methodologies during the pilot project were as highlighted below:<\/p>\n

Maximise technical interaction:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>YouTube Video tutorials (in local languages) were circulated to train the women communities in mask making. Any further instructions were given over WhatsApp calls.<\/p>\n

Local Sourcing and Recycling of fabrics<\/strong>: Our existing connection with local suppliers and our existing stock of pure cotton fabrics helped meet the initial demands.<\/p>\n

Physical Meetings with caution:\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>Leaders were appointed in sub groups of 5 women who were responsible to collect raw material, one at a time and taking all the precautions of social distancing and similarly returning the completed fabrics.<\/p>\n

Production Capacity Assessed<\/strong>: Based on the sewing skills and time availability after completing household chores, we have been able to segregate workers into Basic, Medium and Advanced levels. A basic level worker produces 25 masks a day, a medium level produces 100 masks a day and an advanced level worker produces 500 masks a day.<\/p>\n

Creating Individual WhatsApp groups for maximum coordination:\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>There has been a seamless management of mask project through creation of individual groups of Women workers, Men tailors and Artisans of different levels and categories of workers.<\/p>\n

Assessing the demands for various frontline workers and otherwise<\/strong>: MITHILAsmita is collaborating with local Municipal bodies and Police department to start supplying masks. Also different variants of masks would be shortly available online for anyone in need, and can be shipped globally.<\/p>\n

By optimizing all the above observations and estimates, I believe MITHILAsmita can bridge the gaps in a hugely sustainable manner.<\/p>\n

My phone hasn’t stopped ringing ever since the lock down started in India. And, most of my calls and messages are from artisans, weavers and home based women workers who don’t ask me for donation but work!<\/p>\n

As per one estimate, one cluster of 50 women workers, 25 tailors and 10 artisans can produce 2,55,000 masks a month. By creating roughly 4-5 such clusters, we see a potential to create 1 million handmade masks a month, impacting roughly 4000 families through livelihood, while saving half a million lives (assuming every individual needs at least 2 reusable masks) from the deadly virus!<\/p>\n

\n

By creating roughly 4-5 such clusters, we see a potential to create 1 million handmade masks a month!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

By doing all the above, we are not just pivoting our social business but also bringing the artisan ecosystem, our experience and expertise together. On the one hand, we aim to meet the ever-increasing demands of handmade masks for non-medical front liners and general public and on the other hand, create economic opportunities for the stakeholders at the bottom of the pyramid – artisans, weavers, home based workers, fabric traders\/suppliers, and many more.<\/p>\n

\n

On the one hand, we aim to meet the ever-increasing demands of handmade masks for non-medical front liners and general public and on the other hand, create economic opportunities for the stakeholders at the bottom of the pyramid – artisans, weavers, home based workers, fabric traders\/suppliers<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

‘Hope’ along with planning, funding and timely implementation can create magic! And our Mask Warriors are about to create Magic in these difficult times. Join us!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Originally Published on LinkedIn<\/a> | May 6, 2020 | Ihitashri Shandilya<\/p>\n

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The world has witnessed an unprecedented human crisis in the past few months. A virus, not visible to naked eyes, has threatened human existence and even the most developed countries are failing to contain this pandemic. People are scared of getting out of their homes and consumer behaviour is seeing a radical shift. The lockdown […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"

Preserving Tradition for a Brighter Future<\/h2>

At MITHILAsmita, we believe that culture is the cornerstone of a thriving society. It is our mission to preserve and promote India's rich heritage, ensuring that future generations can appreciate and learn from the traditions of the past. Through our community-based projects, we work hand in hand with local artisans, empowering them to continue practicing and perfecting their art forms.<\/p>

By providing a platform for traditional art, we make it accessible to people from all walks of life. Our goal is to inspire a renewed appreciation for India's cultural treasures and foster a sense of pride among its citizens. Whether you are an art enthusiast or someone curious about the beauty of Indian traditions, we welcome you to embark on this journey with us.<\/p>

Forging Connections Across Borders<\/h2>

One of the core principles that drives us at MITHILAsmita is the belief that cultural exchange is a powerful tool for fostering understanding and connection. We recognize the importance of reaching out to the Indian diaspora around the world, building bridges and strengthening relationships.<\/p>

Through collaborations with countries such as the United Kingdom, United States, and Australia, we create opportunities for cultural exchange. By showcasing and celebrating India's diverse heritage, we bring people together, promoting dialogue and mutual respect. These connections not only enrich the lives of those involved but also contribute to the global tapestry of cultural diversity.<\/p>

Embracing Technology for Sustainable Development<\/h2>

In the digital age, technology plays a vital role in driving sustainable development. At MITHILAsmita, we leverage our expertise in technology, marketing, and management to ensure the longevity and success of our projects.<\/p>

Through our website and online platforms, we make traditional art accessible to a global audience. By embracing e-commerce and social media, we connect artists with potential buyers, creating a sustainable market for their creations. This not only empowers the artisans financially but also ensures the continuity of their craft.<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nBridging the Gap between Covid Warriors and Mask Warriors - ihitashri.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ihitashri.com\/index.php\/2023\/06\/20\/bridging-the-gap-between-covid-warriors-and-mask-warriors\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Bridging the Gap between Covid Warriors and Mask Warriors - ihitashri.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The world has witnessed an unprecedented human crisis in the past few months. 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